Mattek-Sands lives it up on New Zealand salmon adventure

WATCH: Bethanie Mattek-Sands explores New Zealand's Stewart Island

Players starting their season in Brisbane and Perth, Australia, got to meet all all kinds of animals before hitting the courts. But Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who kicked things off the ASB Classic in New Zealand, went an even wilder route.

The eight-time Grand Slam champion toured the country's Stewart Island with Big Glory Bay, a producer of premium ocean-farmed salmon.

While other players were holding snakes and taking quokka selfies, Mattek-Sands was fishing for blue cod ...

Coaching young local players at the nearby Waihopai Tennis Club ...

And, yes, trying the salmon.

At her season opener in Auckland, Mattek-Sands fell in the first round, 6-3, 6-2, to fellow Rio gold medalist Monica Puig.

She has plenty of momentum to carry her into Melbourne, though, having recently returned to Grand Slam glory by winning mixed doubles at the US Open.